Refrigerator with tray cover

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body, a receiving portion defined within the main body, a shelf disposed within the receiving portion having at least one auxiliary hinge portion disposed at a rear thereof, a storage tray slidably extractable from within the receiving portion and adjacent the shelf when the storage tray is received within the receiving portion, and a front cover disposed on a front surface of the storage tray to be rotated upward and opened when the storage tray is extracted from within the receiving portion and having at least one holder portion disposed on a rear surface thereof to be coupled to the at least one auxiliary hinge portion. By the configuration, the front cover is structurally reinforced, and it is possible to prevent the front cover from drooping and prevent a gap between the front cover and the upper shelf.

1. A refrigerator comprising:
 a body having an upper refrigerating chamber; 
 a receiving portion defined at a lower portion of the refrigerating chamber; 
 a shelf disposed in the refrigerating chamber to form an upper surface of the receiving portion, the shelf having a width corresponding to a width of the refrigerating chamber; 
 a storage tray slidably extractable from within the receiving portion; 
 a front cover disposed at a front side of the storage tray to be rotated upward or downward in link with an extracting or retracting operation of the storage tray; 
 hinge shafts disposed at opposite sides of the front cover, respectively, to rotatably support the front cover; and 
 at least one rotation support disposed between the shelf and the front cover to prevent a central portion of the front cover from being deformed, 
 wherein the at least one rotation support includes an auxiliary hinge portion extending from the shelf and having an auxiliary hinge shaft disposed coaxially with the hinge shafts, and a holder extending from the front cover to be coupled to the auxiliary hinge shaft, 
 wherein the at least one auxiliary hinge portion further includes a support portion extending from a front portion of the shelf to the front side of the shelf, and a groove defined within the support portion to allow an upper portion of the front cover to be inserted into the groove when the front cover is opened upward. 
 
     
     
       2. The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotation support is disposed adjacent to the central portion of the front cover. 
     
     
       3. The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge shafts are spaced apart from the shelf. 
     
     
       4. The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage tray includes a sidewall to be extended upward and bent having an inclined portion disposed at a front side thereof, and wherein the front cover includes support pieces disposed at opposite sides of the front cover to come into contact with the inclined portion of the sidewall such that the inclined portion pushes the support pieces such that the front cover is rotated upward and opened when the storage tray is extracted forward. 
     
     
       5. A refrigerator comprising:
 a body having an upper refrigerating chamber; 
 a receiving portion defined at a lower portion of the refrigerating chamber, the receiving portion having a width corresponding to a width of the refrigerating chamber; 
 a shelf disposed to form an upper surface of the receiving portion; 
 a storage tray slidably extractable from within the receiving portion to be adjacent to the shelf when the storage tray is received within the receiving portion; 
 a front cover disposed at a front side of the storage tray to be rotated about main hinge shafts respectively disposed at opposite sides of the front cover, so as to open or close a front upper portion of the storage tray; 
 at least one rotation support disposed between the shelf and the front cover to prevent a central portion of the front cover from being deformed, 
 wherein the at least one rotation support includes a support portion extending from the shelf and having an auxiliary hinge shaft disposed coaxially with the main hinge shafts, and a holder extending from the front cover to be coupled to the auxiliary hinge shaft, 
 wherein the at least one auxiliary hinge portion further includes a support portion extending from a front portion of the shelf to the front side of the shelf, and a groove defined within the support portion to allow an upper portion of the front cover to be inserted into the groove when the front cover is opened upward. 
 
     
     
       6. The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the storage tray includes a sidewall to be extended upward and bent having an inclined portion disposed at a front side thereof, and wherein the front cover includes support pieces disposed at opposite sides of the front cover to come into contact with the inclined portion of the sidewall such that the inclined portion pushes the support pieces such that the front cover is rotated upward and opened when the storage tray is extracted forward. 
     
     
       7. The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one rotation support is disposed at opposite sides of the central portion of the front cover to be adjacent to the central portion of the front cover.